Friday is the day that swimming pools can reopen in Santa Clara County, one of California’s hardest hit during the coronavirus pandemic. Several other counties are pushing to join in on the reopening soon.
Santa Clara County declared Monday that it will allow a round of reopenings Friday as a revision of its shelter-in-place orders. Public swimming pools are among the openings, with modifications such as reduced group size. Other businesses opening include, “in-store retail, outdoor dining, all manufacturing, small service businesses, childcare and summer programs, as well as religious, cultural, and civic activities.”
Pool reopening in many California counties require the signoff of local health authorities and the final approval of the governor. The Santa Clara County opening was at the behest of the public health officer in the county.
Orange County is hoping to join the areas of California reopened to swimming. It submitted a request Tuesday to have closure orders lifted. Type of pool matters here: Counties like Los Angeles and Riverside have been able to reopen privately owned pools. But public pools remain closed under Stage 2 of the California recovery plan, which many counties are in.
San Diego County’s Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to petition California Gov. Gavin Newsom to allow pools, among other facilities, to reopen.
Contra Costa County announced a spate of openings Wednesday, which does not include pools. But between Wednesday’s reopenings and the next scheduled round of modifications prior to June 15, “county health officials will consult with state officials about reopening swimming pools.”
Swimming Through a Pandemic
The postponements and cancellations wrought by COVID-19 haven’t just affected the Olympics and the ranks of elite swimmers. They’ve trickled down to neighborhood clubs and summer youth leagues, affecting thousands of recreational and competitive swimmers alike. Here is some of our coverage of COVID-19’s effect on the American summer swimming calendar.
- Olympic Swimmers To President Trump: For Safety Sake, Help Get Pools Reopened
- Petition Urging Governor Newsom To Open California Pools By Early June Backed By 5 USA Swimming LSCs
- Connecticut Swimmer Launches Petition to Reopen Pools
- As More States Reopen Pools for Summer, Obstacles Remain
- USA Swimming California LSCs Pen Letter to Governor Requesting Pools Open
- Chattanooga Swim League Joins Cancellation List as COVID-19 Restrictions Elsewhere Ease
- Summer Leagues Cancel in Illinois, Missouri and Tennessee; On Hold in Delaware
- Summer Leagues Cancel in Ohio, Nebraska; California Fights To Open Pools
- Decisions Loom in Several States to Determine Fate of Summer Swimming
- ‘Tremendously Difficult’ Decisions Loom for Summer Swimming Clubs
- Texas Pools Begin to Open, But Some Cities Holding Back
- With ‘Great Pain,’ Coastal Carolina Aquatic Association Cancels Summer Season
Resources for returning to the pool in the COVID-19 era
- COVID-19 Pools Guidance Updated By CDC On “Healthy Environments & Operations”
- Chlorine Not a Guaranteed Answer to Covid-19; Detailed Protocols The Way to Go, Says Expert
- USA Swimming Unveils Road to Competition Roadmap For Summer Return
- Pool Water Unlikely to Spread Coronavirus But Facility Environments Need Careful Handling, Says Expert
- Swim Practice Social Distancing Protocol
- The Worries and Concerns of Lap Swimming When Pools Open
- Proper Ways for Teams and Athletes to Resume Training (USA Swimming)
- Is the Water Safe From Coronavirus? Considerations for Return to the Pool
- Pools and Swimming: Getting Back in the Water Safely
- Coronavirus And Swimmers: CDC Issues Guidance On Water Transmission & COVID-19
Sean Killion
Lyle Campbell – we are working on ours as well. Hopeful that we can have the athletes back in the water soon.
Sean Killion Thanks for doing this. Bay club and Highlands have opened up for lap swims already. Not sure if its easier to do that first before lessons.
Is Sean getting in the water too? You’ll need to burn off those Devils Teeth Bakery calories.
Tom Patti SJ County Supervisor
Angel Sandoval thats scsc… ooof
Awesome
Waiting for the OC pools to open, finally!
I don’t know about others but our pool “Covid Rules” are absolutely ridiculous and unfair. Huge pool, like huge and 5 people are allowed . 5!!